The days and weeks just keep flying by, one after another after another. Some are ordinary, with multiple loads of laundry and grocery shopping and rocket math and finding lost articles of clothing. Others are more momentous, like when my firstborn went on a school science trip for three nights and cell phones were not allowed. Working six days a week and getting caught up with life makes me so exhausted I just don't have the energy to sit down at the computer. But... my mom says I really need to update my blog. And I do like to look... Continue reading

Hi Julie, happy new year! My father has had glaucoma for almost three decades now, and though he does have to use daily eye drops, nothing else has been affected and he even passes his driving test last month at the age of 74. So just keep it monitored and you should be fine. It is hereditary, thoug, so Amy and Toby should start getting tested when they turn 20, I think. Take care, I look forward to all your newest knitting in 2014! I just love everything you do, and your joyful outlook and love for your family. Hugs!

Sorry to have been absent for so long but it's been a bit of a peculiar start to the year here. January is the month when most of Toby's annual review meetings take place and so it's a time to focus on where he is making progress and where he needs more help. It's always uncomfortable to measure...

Hope you had a wonderful Christmas (or Hannukah or winter solstice or Thursday the 26th). we had a very nice one even though my parents got sick and were unable to travel to see us. They're feeling better now, though, so that's okay. The weather has been totally unbelievable, hovering right around 80 degrees during the day. C-R-A-Z-Y, don't you think? More and more, I'm opting for simple rather than fussy, and it's suiting me. The teacher gifts were quick and easy to put together with cello bags ordered online, and modified cupcake toppers from Target. Well received, and didn't... Continue reading

Oh. My. Gosh. I'm so ready for a break. I have four glorious days off in a row and I can't wait to sleep in late, have someone else cook, and just enjoy my family. I made a Thankful banner (pattern here) and strung it in the teacher's lounge, along with a basket full of miniature books I made with the Giving Thanks pdf from Wild Olive. I made 80 of those suckers last night, with a little bit of help from the girls. I think I have about 20 left... my mom might like some, and we're keeping a... Continue reading

I know Halloween is already long gone, but I've tried posting this twice already and I'm determined not to let Typepad eat my memories. I originally saw this fabulous jack-o-lantern fruit cup idea here, and knew it would be the perfect treat to bring for the teachers. Did I mention I'm hospitality chair again? I didn't really sign up for it this year, but I do love the teachers, so here I am. The kids and I had a great time coming up with ideas for the faces, even though we did stray quite a bit from the jack-o-lantern look.... Continue reading

My dear, sweet baby. We will miss you so much. Eighteen years was a long time together, but I wasn't ready to say goodbye. Glad you were able to die at home, in your soft bedding. I know you know that we love you. You were the softest kitty... really, the softest *any*thing I ever touched. Thank you for loving us back. Continue reading

Hellooooo! Yes, it's long lost little me, finally getting back to my poor neglected blog. And I come bearing gifts, two freebies for you... a pair of sweet printable shabby rosy paper chains, ready to print as many times as you like and festoon your own shabby cottage... And, they just ...

It happened again... the summer days flew by, the girls went another grade higher, and this time I have two school schedules and drop-off/pick-up times to figure out. The middle schooler now has uniforms (silent "Yay!" from Mom) and I knew enough to get my photo before even getting into the car. She's got a crazy schedule, it rotates daily and I couldn't begin to figure out where she's supposed to be when, but hopefully she'll have no problem remembering by next week. I still made my traditional gifts for all of Jessica's previous teachers (who happen to be Rebecca's... Continue reading

We've been enjoying every moment of summer. Mostly out and about, traveling, swimming, scootering in the park. But once in a while we'll just stay home and pull out the crafts. Chronicle Books sent me a copy of Party Origami by Jessica Okui of Zakka Life, and the girls and I had a fun time checking it out and making some of our first origami projects ever. Now that they are a bit older, and are more precise with their folds, it's a lot more fun and everything they attempted was successful. One of these bird placecard holders was made... Continue reading

it seems in the rush and excitement of pre market jitters I have neglected to actually show you my newest fabric range! Actually it was more rush than excitement with my fabric samples arriving only 6 days before I left for America…. so as you can understand a blog post about this exciting e...

Whew! The summer is just zooming by, isn't it? I pulled out my decorations for the Fourth of July yesterday, and realized that my vintage-style Patriotic Paper Chains really didn't fit in with my classic stars and stripes. I figure lots of you might feel the same, so I decided to offer anot...

Whew! The summer is just zooming by, isn't it? I pulled out my decorations for the Fourth of July yesterday, and realized that my vintage-style Patriotic Paper Chains really didn't fit in with my classic stars and stripes. I figure lots of you might feel the same, so I decided to offer anot...

Well, half term last week was a bit of a wash out really. The first half of the week was wet and windy and in the second half we all came down with stinking colds. Still, it was impossible to feel downhearted because we now have this at the end of the garden :) It is everything we had hop...

That's because you are a truly loving and gifted teacher who cares. My oldest is graduating elementary school next Thursday and I feel the tears already. She has had such nurturing teachers, we have been so lucky. I wish I knew you in "real" life, but thank you for sharing so much of yourself here. Your students will carry you with them always.
xoxo

I've been away. On Sunday I returned from an eleven day work trip to Europe and I'm still recovering (more on that later). Home with just five days left of preschool until September, I started to feel the sadness of another year coming to an end. We wrote our goodbye cards to the children (w...

During writing up the first of my animal patterns it's been hard to know just how much detail to go into. I didn't want the patterns to only cover the written knitting instructions with a few lines about assembling the toy almost as an afterthought. Instead I wanted them to include as much detai...

I was thinking of you and hoping you all had a happy Mother's Day. I wanted to thank you for coming here every day and looking for ways to spend creative time with your children. Thank you for making that a priority and knowing in your gut that children need quantity time as well as quality tim...

I am beyond thrilled to be celebrating the launch of six new Cupcakes for Clara kits today. As if six new kits wasn't exciting enough, there's a big old virtual tea and cake party going on here too. Grab yourselves a cuppa and a sweet treat and get ready for some loveliness. There's a grea...

Cassi, I hope your dad is doing much better. You seem to be in a healthy state of mind, so I'm hoping you're all fine. Last year was the worst of my life, so I'm trying to take action and stop waiting for the "right" time to do things, as well. I've had a bathroom redo in my sights since we first bought this house, and I realize that come February, it will be 10 years! And not a thing has been touched. Time to take action, now! I will be thinking about you and keeping you in mind as I try to stay motivated. I'll keep up with you here and on Bella Dia, take care!

Hi everyone, I apologize for things being a bit quiet here for the past month. Although I had posts scheduled for most of December, behind the scenes I was occupied with family health problems. My father had a small stroke while he was away from home and there was a lot of traveling, doctor...

I was going to title this post "don't let the door hit you on the way out," but didn't want to broadcast such negativity and bad vibes. Truthfully, I can't wait to see the back end of 2012. This has probably been the worst year of my life, starting on January 1st and ending with the loss of my grandfather the week before Thanksgiving. I'm so ready to kick 2012 out the door, and usher in a new year of better things. These last two weeks have been great, though. The girls and I managed to fight off colds, we... Continue reading

Hello dear bloggie friends! The last few weeks have gone by in a blur, because I've been working like crazy to finish my new app, Bunnyfur's Christmas. When it's done, it will be submitted to Apple, then I have to wait another week or so for them to approve. My poor little eyeballs are sooo...

I've got so many irons in the fire, sometimes it's hard to concentrate on one thing at a time. 1. Embellishing bracelets to pass out during the class party. 2. Putting together treats and decorations for the teachers' lounge. 3. Making costumes at the last minute, with input from the designer. 4. Attempting to knit up ghost necklaces, to add to a growing collection, but realizing that was one thing that just wasn't going to get done. And letting it go. Being able to focus is so important. And my little lady can certainly vouch for that... she got glasses... Continue reading

My heart is so full it's hard to speak. We have adopted a baby girl. We were honored and privileged to be asked by her luminous birthmother and her gentle birthfather to attend her birth. That moment, and the four days we spent in a hospital room with them and their family and friends were th...

I've got a great giveaway for you today! Office supplies from Martha Stewart Home Office by Avery! I don't know about you but I adore office supplies! Besides helping me get organized, they make me feel like I am getting something done even when I'm not. It is so satisfying to thumb through...